Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-10

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't determined in implementing change, fighting corruption, PM tells ND central committee

[01] Gov't determined in implementing change, fighting corruption, PM tells ND central committee

"We promised Greek society that we would contain corruption, shape common rules applicable to all, and strengthen democracy in the land that created it," Karamanlis said.

"We are not abandoning any of the promises we made. We do not hesitate, we have no dilemmas and no second thoughts," he continued.

"It's been a while since we made our decisions, we are on a steady collision course with corruption and the phenomena that cultivate it," he said, stressing that this 'course' is necessary for the well-being of the economy and democracy itself.

The government's goal is to achieve total transparency, legitimacy and serving the public interest, according to the prime minister.

To this end, the government has proceeded with changes regarding public works contracts, armaments procurement and is promoting a new system in health care procurement.

Karamanlis also referred to steps taken thus far in 'cleaning up' the judiciary, a process that will continue.

"The principles of the new governance are clear-cut and apply to all: accountability, legitimacy, transparency, respect for taxpayers' money, respect for citizens, respect for the values of Greek society," he said.

Regarding the future, Karamanlis said that implementation of reforms will continue with vision, determination and responsibility.

He explained that the government's planned reforms are not being implemented just to correct mistakes of the past, but to open new avenues and new opportunities for Greek citizens.

"They [reforms] are being undertaken in order to create a modern social state, tailored to the needs of the present, capable of providing citizens with better health care, more effective security, real prosperity and a better life," Karamanlis said.

The prime minister also referred to the economy, and the bad state it was in when New Democracy came into office in March 2004.

Greece's public debt soared from 25% of GDP in 1980 to nearly 110% in 2004, while the country ended up having the highest fiscal deficit among its peers, and unemployment exceeded 11% in 2004, Karamanlis noted.

"We are fighting to contain wasteful spending in the public sector, tackling tax evasion, capitalising on public property, ensuring absolute transparency in management, cleaning up and containing the broader public sector," he said.

In closing, Karamanlis said that Greek citizens support the government's efforts to change all that is wrong in the country and called on the party's cadres to continue fighting to this end.

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